Dogs are fumbling away the season (and other lessons from Saturday’s debacle)
BOULDER, Colo. – Three things gleaned from Saturday’s 29-27 loss to Colorado:
1. Georgia is fumbling away the season. Washaun Ealey barely played Saturday -– he got just one carry -– as a consequence of his critical fumbles inside the opponent’s 5-yard line in losses at South Carolina and Mississippi State. Ealey’s benching created more playing time for Caleb King, who gave Georgia its first 100-yard rusher of the season. But in the final two minutes, with Georgia well within range to kick a potentially game-winning field goal, King fumbled the ball and the game away. (Also, of course, someone should have blocked the linebacker who forced the fumble by striking King a split-second after he took the handoff on what coach Mark Richt called “as basic of a play as we’ve got.”)
2. Georgia desperately needs a full game from A.J. Green. The star wide receiver caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 40 yards on an end-around, but he still hasn’t played a full game in any of Georgia’s past nine regular-season games. He missed 3 ½ of the final four games last season with injuries, missed the first four games this season because of the NCAA suspension and missed much of the third quarter Saturday night with cramping. Just before he left the game, Green caught a 50-yard pass that put the Bulldogs in position to score the touchdown that gave them a 24-14 lead with 10:40 left in the third quarter. By the time he returned to the game in the fourth quarter, after getting intravenous fluids in the locker room, Georgia trailed 29-24. In the two first-quarter series that Georgia didn’t get Green the ball and the two third-quarter series he did not play, the Bulldogs combined for one first down and minus-1 yard of net offense. In the rest of the game, the Dogs had 19 first downs and 410 yards offense.
3. The defense continues to be burned by big plays. Georgia took a 24-14 lead early in the third quarter, but Colorado scored touchdowns on its next two possessions to go ahead for good. Explosive plays set up both of those TDs. A 65-yard run down the left sideline by tailback Rodney Stewart on an option pitch fueled the first of the two drives. A 46-yard pass to wide receiver Will Jefferson, who got open down the middle behind Vance Cuff, sparked the second. Making matters worse for Georgia on the latter series, Colorado tried to settle for a field goal, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty against Cuff gave the Buffaloes a first down and kept the TD drive alive. Colorado opted to take the three points off the scoreboard and quickly put on seven instead, and that proved to be the difference in a game ultimately decided by two.
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223 comments Add your comment
Coach Randy McPherson
October 3rd, 2010
3:33 pm
Im here trying to set up a non-region game for my team with the Georgia Bulldogs
still a dawg fan
October 3rd, 2010
3:33 pm
Hey Macclenny man,
Our recruiting s$$ks unless you are talking about bring thugs into the program—we are good at that. If our recruiting has been so great then how come our program has been on the decline for the last 4-5 years. I know everyone wants to blame it on the coaches but we don’t get top talent anymore.We do get some good athletes but what we need are some good FOOTBALL PLAYERS because these good athletes we get are not very good football players.Our decline started about the same time Van Gorder left because he had a good eye for good football talent. I will say that BOBO needs to go.
RECRUIT BETTER & WE WILL WIN & THAT’S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT
acdc1996
October 3rd, 2010
3:38 pm
First, to those who do not say we do not have players, that is crazy. Our defense has played well up until 3rd down. On 3rd down, we are terrible. Maybe our scheming and play calling or poor execution.
As far as the offense, if Boise can win with average players, so can UGA. If we would stop trying to chunk the ball down field on every pass play and mix in some short passes to aid our lack luster running game, then I think you would see a huge improvement.
Green is important because, as the whole world can tell, BOZO has built our entire offense around him. That is flawed. It is a team game. AJ, for all the amazing plays he made Saturday, could not win the game alone.
I think the players are there, we just need to develop them and we need a better game plan. The problem is that game plans are established in the off season or off weeks. We do not have one until Tech.
BamaGrad
October 3rd, 2010
3:39 pm
I’ve always liked and respected UGA. Worked @ UGA all summer, which created an even stronger pull for UGA. But, there are some issues with the program. Look at programs that are winners year in and year out. Look at my Tide before Saban came in. Saban not only creates an air of high expectations (not necessarily wins since doing your job and finishing the game takes care of that), but responsibility in the classroom (McElroy is a Rhodes Scholar candidate and many are working on their masters degrees), weightroom (even the kicker Foster is ripped), and less trouble outside of the practice field and classroom.
I like Coach Richt, and as a Christian, I hate people attacking him for his faith. It is a cheap shot actually. But, I don’t see a great deal of control over the program. I hope, for him, that he has not lost control of the program. If so, it will take someone else to come in and get it back.
Red Panties
October 3rd, 2010
3:39 pm
David
You are right about the scapegoat thing, just like kicking that nonplayer linebacker off the team.
Nothing more than Richt seeking some cover——-this is a chicken sh!t approach to discilpine.
Willie Martinez
October 3rd, 2010
3:44 pm
Adios, suckers
Steve
October 3rd, 2010
3:47 pm
I keep hearing how bad Bama was 4 years ago and that is correct but the difference is they went from bad to good and Ga has gone fron good to bad.
Friend of UGA
October 3rd, 2010
3:48 pm
Richt has no one to blame but himself. He delayed firing Willie by at least two years, and has allowed an incompetent buffon named Bobo to be his offensive coordinator. After he ran out of Donnan’s players, he has won nothing of note. 2007 was two lucky plays during the Vandy game. No fumble by Vandy late in the game and no #2. Searels started out pretty good but hanging around Richt has ruined him the past few years. Richt has no clue and is not in the same galaxy as Saban or Myer in coaching ability. In the last several years he has let the program slip below the level of Donnan to the level of Goff, with no prospects of improvement. His discipline heretofore has been a joke. Think Vince Dooley would tolerate this? He is paid a handsome salary and accomplished nothing since Donnan’s residual talent. What are you getting for your money, Bulldog fans? Nothing but embarassment and ridicule from the rest of your SEC peers. In all probability, UGA’s record will be 6-6 or 5-7, at best, and perhaps worse. Do you want to keep on with this or do you want to do what you need to do to again become a winning, competitive program? It’s up to you.
war *am eagle
October 3rd, 2010
3:49 pm
680 buck you sound just like the alumni that wanted to keep Tubervill. However please please keep Richt.
Paint
October 3rd, 2010
3:50 pm
http://es.pn/aCg3Fl
Here’s a little bio for each SEC programs Strength and Conditioning coach.
RxDawg
October 3rd, 2010
3:56 pm
“Also, of course, someone should have blocked the linebacker who forced the fumble by striking King a split-second after he took the handoff”
This. Our offensive line is a bunch of girls that don’t deserve to wear the G.
Jakar Hamilton too.
Synchronize Your Dogmas
October 3rd, 2010
3:57 pm
That would be a very entertaining game coach Randy. Reality please
RxDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:01 pm
“We need to hire Brian Van Gorder as head coach.”
Quick, somebody e-punch that idiot in the face and revoke his blogging privileges for a week.
Fate
October 3rd, 2010
4:02 pm
A simple slo-mo replay of the last drive clearly shows this was no flea flicker play. Caleb even had the ball, there was not an exchange issue. There was no doubt a blocking issue, the colorado defender was unaccounted for in what seemed to be a simple base defense. Dog lineman picked him up at the last minute and tried to adjust, but not in time. Wasn’t a matter of being beaten at the line of scrimmage. It was as if Fate had determined we were going to lose this game. If nothing else, this loss polarizes our weaknesses. We have to get off the field on 3rd down. Anything less than 3rd and 15 now and I’m cringing. Blair Walsh has to make the chip shots. Our backs don’t have break away speed, so find a way to get them on the edges. Instead of “blindly” calling up the middle running plays to “set up” the play action, we need some innovative play calling that exploits what the defense is giving us. Colorado’s use of the quick toss against our over pursuing aggressive defense was an excellent example of this. I didn’t see two of the three personal fouls against Cuff, but in reality, none of us should have seen the third becuase he should have been on the bench. Hatts off to Aaron Murray, the kid is freakishly good. AJ showed up big time, sorry to see him go next year. I’ve just never seen anything like that kid. I thought the LSU catch was the best I ever saw…this one takes the cake. Nowhere to go but up from here. I saw good effort…for those hating on Rambo…looked like he played hard and wrapped up to me. Let’s beat Tennessee!
RxDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:03 pm
“Why did we throw the ball 2 times when we were on the 2 yard line???????”
Because…wait for it…..hear it comes…………..WE CANNOT RUN THE FOOTBALL
House Kat
October 3rd, 2010
4:08 pm
let’s face Dogs & Vols the SEC this year is not that stong outside the state of Ala. did you Vols really think the refs were going to stock a possible big bowl
for the SEC after they got embarresed by UAB and a pac 10 team. The refs know who needs to win and when is the
last time the toughest conference in America has played a real team in regular season
still a dawg fan
October 3rd, 2010
4:08 pm
Hey acdc1996,
Boise don’t have ave players.There players are way above ave but most important is that their coaches don’t recruit good athletes they recruit good football,players. Their QB was a 1 star player because he is not the tallest,doesn’t have the strongest arm and he is not the fastest runner but he is a GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER who knows how to play QUARTERBACK. They have 2 NFL wide receivers & they have an offensive line that knows how to block,so overall their offense is better then ours.
RECRUIT BETTER & WE WILL WIN & THAT’S ALL I HAVE TO SAY
bugsquacher
October 3rd, 2010
4:09 pm
READ AND THINK ABOUT THIS:
1-
Coach Randy McPherson
October 3rd, 2010
4:11 pm
We would have a chance
Steve
October 3rd, 2010
4:15 pm
RXDawg
We ran the ball to get to the 2 yard line and have you ever heard of running the fullback???
bugsquacher
October 3rd, 2010
4:18 pm
READ THIS…..
What is the problem with the UGA football team?
1- is it the facilities? no, UGA has one of the best football facilites in the country
2- is lack of funds? no, UGA football team is one of the highest funded teams in the country
3- is it fan support? no, the games have been sold out for year after year
4- is it the booster support? no, UGA has one of the finest booster programs in the country
5- is it lack of talent? no, top recruiting classes in the country for many years
Hmmmm then what is it……..
6- is it coaching? HELL YES!
SO HEY McGARITY,,,, GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW! YOU WANTED THE JOB……. DO IT!
I Believe
October 3rd, 2010
4:18 pm
Georgia Tech WON last night.
And, the losers lost last night U gag. AGAIN.
I Believe
October 3rd, 2010
4:19 pm
It must be the scout teams fault.
LMAO
Synchronize Your Dogmas
October 3rd, 2010
4:20 pm
At lawsuits?
bugsquacher
October 3rd, 2010
4:20 pm
Agnes Scott wants its girl basketball team back… last nights game in Colorado took too much out of them….
I Believe
October 3rd, 2010
4:22 pm
They don’t need jock straps at UGA. The football team has been NEUTERED.
Party school
October 3rd, 2010
4:22 pm
Red Panties
October 3rd, 2010
3:39 pm
David
You are right about the scapegoat thing, just like kicking that nonplayer linebacker off the team.
Nothing more than Richt seeking some cover——-this is a chicken sh!t approach to discilpine.
Totally agree. When Richt tries to impose discipline it is to cover his own arse. He is clueless in this area. Kicking that kid off the team sent the message that different rules apply to different players. Why give a slap on the wrist for one player and destroy the career and opportunity for an education for another? Clueless.
I Believe
October 3rd, 2010
4:24 pm
It was probably Dish Network’s fault.
College football expert
October 3rd, 2010
4:27 pm
Richt should have spent more time teaching his players to protect the ball instead of saving their souls and selling them trucks. He might want to teach them about the dangers of drinking and driving too. Fire him now!
RxDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:27 pm
“I think the players are there, we just need to develop them and we need a better game plan.”
I disagree. I think the recruiting classes of 06 & 07 were absolutely overrated and terrible. Our decline goes hand in hand with them moving up to juniors and seniors. I truly think we got some bad apples along the way and are paying the price. They might of been fast, but they have no heart and NO football IQ.
Christopher Columbus
October 3rd, 2010
4:28 pm
Same old story. Alcohol, venereal disease and Christianity rots the fabric of a vibrant and colorful culture. Wasn’t alcohol and VD enough for a Football team to cope with ? Add Preacher CMR to the boat and the water began spilling over the transom. Free Georgia Football from the scourge of holy dogmas.
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
4:29 pm
As bad as it looks UGA is only 3 fumbles from 4-1.
.
UGA is an LSU victory over Fla and a Fla loss to UGA in Jax from being ahead of the gaytors in the SEC East race.
.
SC lost to Auburn and needs only lose to Fla and one other SEC foe (divisional) and UGA has the tie breaking nod over both.
.
This is not that far fetched as The Gaytors suck (as demonstrated by the curb punching they took from ALA and the 26 total yards in 3 quarters against Miami of Ohio) and SC cant win out….they dont have the talent or depth (as demonstrated by barely beating UGA and losing to Aub).
.
So with a three way tie at the top and UGA only having one in division loss (SC) and SC having two division losses (one being to Fla) UGA gets the SEC east nod to play in the SEC title against LSU (ALA looked good Sat (but it was against Fla) but barely beat and needed to come from behind to beat a team that barely beat and needed a fumble to beat UGA)
.
Mark it down. You heard it hear first
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
4:34 pm
write it down
RxDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:37 pm
patrick, they are cursed. The football gods have spoken and it says “you lose”. We should accept it as such, pay tribute, and pray for next year.
Party school
October 3rd, 2010
4:43 pm
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
4:29 pm
ROFLMAO, have you seen them play??? Mercy.
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:47 pm
Patrick, let’s not sugar-coat the issue. When you say that the Dawgs are 3 fumbles away from 4-1, you forget about the fumbles that the opponents have had as well. Miss St. threw an interception inside the 15…SC turned it over inside the 25 (the reason why we had the ball in the first place when Ealey fumbled). You can’t count our fumbles without mentioning the mistakes that the other teams have had as well. If you do, then you realize that fumbles are far from our only problem.
I love UGA, but let’s get our heads out of the clouds and stop thinking about how we can still win the East. That kind of thinking is what got us here in the first place.
ugacdawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:48 pm
The biggest issue here is the players – they either are not capable of or not willing to play at the level necessary to win right now – there is nothing wrong with the defensive schema or coaching – it worked fine for the Dallas Cowboys – the players just either don’t know it well enough yet or aren’t capable of playing it well. As for the offense they moved the ball pretty well with a freshman quarterback and Green is absurd. The running backs are not explosive and the o-line run blocking is poor. The team missed a field goal, threw an interception in the end zone and fumbled going for another score. These are NOT things that a coach can change or fix – they simply CANNOT. So, while it’s on the coaches that these players are on the team and playing in these positions it’s not on them to execute for the players – right now they are finding ways to lose (and losing confidence) instead of finding ways to win. We said the same thing in early 2007 and by the end of the year we had the best team in all of college football – this year is worse but it’s on the players 80%+, not the coaches.
Senior Humble U
October 3rd, 2010
4:50 pm
Dogs being done this early is GREAT! Dogs are an afterthought like they should be. There is a winning football team down in Atlanta: The Atlanta Falcons!
I Believe
October 3rd, 2010
4:52 pm
UGA should change their nickname to the MULES!!!
Cobb County has 2 mascots for sale with all of the accessories.
LMAO!!!!
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:53 pm
UGACDawg…I agree with some of what you said…but it IS the job of the coaches to get the players to understand the system and to play at the level that is required. If they cannot, then either the players need to go, or the coaches do.
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
4:54 pm
Yes I saw they play…..I also saw Fla play. Our D is a 3-4 and we recruited all theses years for a 4-3. Grantham needs to find the right mix…he will.
.
Bobo needs to open it up since AJ is back (see how well UGA’s O played while he was in) and he will.
.
UGA will win out and will need only SC to choke (they do all the time) and LSU to beat Fla and we are in.
.
BANK
I Could Have Put Some Lame Name Here
October 3rd, 2010
4:56 pm
Every one that has Played past pee wee league please raise your hand!!
Nuff said.
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:57 pm
Patrick…UGA will win out? Ok buddy…did you take your Lithium today? Come on man…we are simply not very good this year…it’s ok, we will get better and hopefully can return to greatness soon…but not this year. You need to face it, we are 1-4 and need to concentrate on becoming a better team and not run scenarios on how we can still win a championship.
judge
October 3rd, 2010
4:58 pm
It could be the Richt is already fired but they are going to let him finish out the season. They fired Donnan cause he lost to Tech 3 years in a row. I guess If Georgia somehow managed to beat Florida and Tech too—-they might give him another year to coach. It is bad now because I really think that all of the big running backs are going to go to Alabama and Auburn and LSU now——I mean —you just cannot compete in the SEC with a game plan that does not involve running over people—Georiga has backs that slide into the line sideways —-what in the hell? Where is this programs head at?——————————————————————–Never Mind! I guess more will be revealed.
Frank
October 3rd, 2010
4:59 pm
Reading this is like hearing a Real Men of Genius commercial. Most of these posters are real losers, especially the rival school “haters” who come on these blogs and say things they would never say to anyones face.
THWGT!!!!!
Ernest Nigstick
October 3rd, 2010
5:00 pm
1st
Ernest Nigstick
October 3rd, 2010
5:05 pm
It’s going to be okay… we’re going to hire Kirby Smart and he’s going to save the day for us! LMAO!
rpidge
October 3rd, 2010
5:07 pm
Georgia coaches have now put Georgia in a position they have never been in, underdogs in every game for the rest of the season with the exception of maybe one. BYU got rid of a non-apaerforming coach why can’t we start rebuilding now. I’m sure there is a top notch pair of coaches out there waiting. I see some on ESPN’s sportcenter all the time. I get tired on being told wait till next year.Maybe a team of three and four star recruits are what we need. At least they would be hungry to win. Put safety Hamilton on the taxi squad along with Rambo and Cuff. Better yet let them start driving the taxi.
UGAJD
October 3rd, 2010
5:09 pm
@ BamaGrad – Good post. Richt’s faith is something that I’ve always admired about him, and it has nothing to do with the Dawgs woes. That said, I would love for Kirby Smart to come home to UGA and implement the Saban methodology.
@ patrick – Don’t know what you’re smokin’ brother, but would love to get my hands on some. I’m afraid your BANK, like so many others in Georgia, is going to fail.
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
5:12 pm
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
4:57 pm
Patrick…UGA will win out? Ok buddy…did you take your Lithium today? Come on man…we are simply not very good this year…it’s ok, we will get better and hopefully can return to greatness soon…but not this year
=========================
seriously, UGA is two ealy (inside the 6) fumbles and one King fumble from 4-1. I dont think there is much missing. Just need a tweek or two. Nothing major. 3 balls bouncing our way this season and we are 4-1 and ranked top 15. Not rocket science folks. People who look only at the record get a little confused and I understand this….but if you ever actually played or watched a game you see that a subtle difference here or there at this level is all that is needed. UGA has the talent…it just has been one unlucky snake bit team. UGA wins out